COVID-19 funding sped to Department of Health

As the COVID-19 virus reached Minnesota, the Legislature worked to speed sufficient funding to the Department of Health, allowing the agency to ramp up its response and get resources in place.

A new law, effective March 11, 2020, transferred $20.9 million from the General Fund to the state’s public health response contingency account.

The funding is to cover staffing and laboratory costs, personal protective equipment, and support for local public health and health care coalitions – all of which is tied to the state’s expected public health response to COVID-19.

The bill will cancel any funds over $5 million – as of Feb. 1, 2021 – back to the General Fund.

Sponsored by Rep. Tina Liebling (DFL-Rochester) and Sen. Jerry Relph (R-St. Cloud), the law also authorizes the appropriation of any federal money designated to address the COVID-19 outbreak and provides reporting requirements.

HF4275/SF3813*/CH66

SF3813* / HF4275 / CH66